UPSC CSE Prelims
ISRO and Indian Space Programme Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for ISRO and Indian Space Programme with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
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Consider the following statements with regard to involvement of private entities in India's space programme :
- The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is an autonomous agency formed to facilitate participation of private entities.
- Agnikul Cosmos launched the world's first flight using 3D-printed rocket engine.
- Skyroot Aerospace has developed liquid fuel for GSLV.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 — Correct. IN-SPACe was established in 2020 as an autonomous, single-window nodal agency under the Department of Space (DOS). It acts as a bridge between ISRO and private players to promote, authorize, and facilitate private sector participation in India's space sector.
Statement 2 — Correct. In May 2024, Chennai-based startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched the Agnibaan SOrTeD suborbital rocket from its private launchpad at Sriharikota — marking the world's first flight powered by a single-piece, fully 3D-printed rocket engine (semi-cryogenic engine named Agnilet).
Statement 3 — Incorrect. Skyroot Aerospace develops its own independent launch vehicles (the Vikram series) and engines. It does NOT develop fuel or engines for GSLV. The GSLV is an ISRO-owned heavy-lift rocket whose liquid and cryogenic stages are developed entirely in-house by ISRO via the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
Key Trick: Statement 3 mixes two separate private players — Agnikul (3D engine) and Skyroot (Vikram rockets) — and falsely links Skyroot to GSLV.
With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Other than the USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into space.
- Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: India is the 5th country to launch a space observatory, not the 3rd. USA, Russia, Japan, and Europe (ESA) had already launched similar observatories before AstroSat.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: AstroSat has a mass of approximately 1513 kg (not 2000 kg) and was placed in a 650 km orbit (not 1650 km) above Earth's surface by PSLV-C30 in September 2015.
Consider the following statements regarding: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
- is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
- made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
- made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Mangalyaan is officially called the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), launched by ISRO in 2013.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: India was the fourth space agency to reach Mars orbit, after the Soviet Union, NASA (USA), and the European Space Agency.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: India became the first nation to successfully orbit Mars on its maiden attempt, a unique achievement as all previous Mars missions by other nations had failed in their first attempts.
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